Dennis Lockhart of the Atlanta Fed takes part in a panel convened to speak about the health of the U.S. economy in New York November 18, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve could still raise interest rates twice this year, with a move in September a possibility, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said on Tuesday.

"I would not rule out September. If the meeting were today, I think the economic data would justify a serious discussion" of whether to raise rates now, Lockhart told reporters after a speech in Knoxville. "It's conceivable we could have two rate increases this year; 2017 depends on how the economy evolves."